Usually, when a city is described as an industrial hub, tourists will be automatically turned off - the phrase rarely conjures up images of tourist paradises. But Nagoya is the a true industrial powerhouse, and more than that, it is the city than invented pachinko, that ever popular Japanese game, and yet it manages to be one of the most attractive tourist cities in Japan at the same time. Nagoya is the fourth largest city in the country, and yet it has a more low key and laid back feel than... [ read more ]

Traditional Japanese inns, called ryokans, first appeared over four centuries ago, in the Edo period, when weary travelers on the highways needed bed and food for the night. Nowadays, stopping at a ryokan is not just a necessity on a long trip, it is a pleasure. People come to stay at ryokans simply to enjoy traditional Japanese hospitality and food. The greatest charm of ryokans is their traditional architecture: the rooms have sliding doors, the floors are covered in tatami mats, communal ... [ read more ]

Japan is one of the most expensive countries on the planet, so surprise seeing as it also has one of the highest standards of living - good life doesn't come cheap! Many travelers stay away from Japan because it is infamously high-priced, and budget travelers or backpackers re definitely not the bulk of visitors to the Land of the Rising Sun. But despite all that, it is possible to visit Japan on a budget, provided it isn't too tiny. Although eating at elegant sushi restaurants and staying a... [ read more ]

Japan is one of the most expensive destinations in the world, so visiting it on a budget is an option only for those who are extremely clever at budgeting, or prepared to miss out on much that the country has to offer. But since eating on a budget in most Japanese cities is quite easily achievable thanks to cheap noodle joints and convenience store lunches, only the problems of transport and accommodation remain, and here are some suggestions on how to cut the costs of the latter: urban ca... [ read more ]